Self-propelling soil-compactor

ABSTRACT

A self-propelling soil-compactor which comprises wheel drums, an axle housing and a wheel drum cleaning device consisting of cleaner bars attached to both the right and left sides of the axle housing, means for supporting the axle housing rotatably about the longitudinal axis thereof, means for supporting the cleaner bars rotatably about the axis of the axle housing, and teeth provided on the cleaner bars so that they may be placed near the peripheral surface of the wheel drum.

ni'ted States Patet 1191 Kitai et al. Dec. 3, 1974 [5 SELF-PROPELLINGSOIL-COMPACTOR 3.554,101 1/1971 Grunt ct al 404/129 z 2 [75] Inventors:Kenzaburo Kitai, Yokohama; 3"633'47l R mdour 9 Miiuho Tomita, Kawasaki,both of Japan Primary Examiner-Mervin Stem Assistant Examiner-Steven A.Hawkins [73] Asslgnee: Kifbushlkl Kalsha Komatsu Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Armstrong, Nikaido & Setsakusho, Tokyo, Japan Wegner [22] Filed:Mar. 19, 1974 [21] App]. No.: 452,643 [57] ABSTRACT A self-propellingsoil-compactor which comprises Foreign Application Priority Data wheeldrums, an axle housing and a wheel drum clean- Mar. 19, 1973 Japan48-32627 g device nsisting f lean r ars atta h d to both I the right andleft sides of the axle housing, means for [52] U.S. Cl. 404/129, 172/547pp ng h l h ing r ly t he l ngi- [51] int. Cl. E0lc 19/26 tudinal axisthereof/means for pp g h cleaner [58] Field at Search 404/129, 121;172/547 bars rotatably about the axis of the axle u g, and teethprovided on the cleaner bars so that they may be [56] References Cit dplaced near the peripheral surface of the wheel drum. UNITED STATESPATENTS 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 3,085,484 4/l963 McAdams et a!404/129 SELF-PROPELLING SOlL-COMPACTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates to a self-propellingsoilcompactor, more particularly to a wheel drum cleaning device for usein a selfpropelling soil-compactor.

2. Description of the Prior Art A wheel drum cleaning device for use ina conventional selfpropelling soil-compactor has cleaner bars separatelyattached to both the right and left sides of an axle housing of thecompactor through bearings. As a result, the bearings are projectedexternally from the axle housing and, therefore, dust and dirt tend toenter these projected bearings, thereby frequently hindering smoothoperation of the cleaner bars. In addition, the cleaner bars cannotsmoothly follow up the substantially vertical rocking motion of wheeldrums, consequently both the wheel drums and the cleaner bars tend tocome into contact with each other, thereby deteriorating'the travellingperformance of the vehicle and the durability of each part.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION .This invention is intended to eliminate theabovedescribed various disadvantages of the conventional compactor.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide aself-propelling soil-compactor which is so constructed that wheel drumsand cleaner bars may be brought into the simultaneous rocking motion inthe substantially vertical direction thereof withoutgiving a complicateconstruction to the periphery of an axle housing thereof.

It is anotherobject of this invention toprovide a selfpropellingsoil-compactor which has a novel wheel drum cleaning device consistingof cleaner bars attached to both the right and'left sides of an axlehousing thereof, means for supporting the axle housing rotatably aboutthe longitudinal axis of the axle housing and means for supporting thecleaner bars rotatably about the axis of the axle housing and connectingthe cleaner.

and a wheel drum cleaning device which consists ofcleaner bar's attachedto both the right and left sides of the axle housing, means forsupporting the axle housing rotatably about the longitudinal axis of theaxle housing and means for supporting the cleaner bars rotatably aboutthe axis of the axle housing. The axle housing supporting means consistsof supports fixed to a main frame of the vehicle body of the compactorand annular members fixed to the supports, respectively, and mounted oncylindrical extension parts of the axle housing, respectively, throughannular bushings and sealing members so that the axle housing may berotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof relative to the axlehousing supporting means. The cleaner bars supporting means consists ofan annular mounting member securely fixed to one of theannular membersof the axle housing supporting means, which is positioned at one of thecylindrical extension parts of the axle housing, a firstannular memberrotatably mounted on the annular mounting member through an annularbushing and annular sealing members, a second annular member rotatablymounted on the other cylindrical extension part of the axle housingthrough an annular bushing, and first and second supports fixed to saidfirst and second annular members, respectively, and connecting thecleaner bars.

In addition, the above-described cleaner bars are provided withsoil-removing teeth opposite to and adjacent to the peripheral surfaceof the wheel drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects, features andadvantages of this invention will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a self-propelling soilcompactorequipping a wheel drum cleaning device DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Now this invention will be hereinafter describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, thenumeral 1 indicates an axle housing. The front and rear sides at themiddle of the axle housing 1 are provided with cylindrical extensionparts 3 and 4, respectively. A support 8 having an annular member 8a isprovided at the front extension part 3 through an annular bushing 6 andannular sealing members 7. At the rear extension part 4, there isprovided a support 11 having an annular member 11a through an annularbushing 9 and annular sealing members 10. These two supports 8 and 11are securely fixed to a main frame 12 of the vehicle body of thecompactor. Thus, the axle housing 1 is supported rotatably about thelongitudinal axis thereof. Cleaner bars 13 are attached to the axlehousing 1 at its right and left sides. Support 14 and 15 are fixed tothe front and rear sides of these cleaner bars. The front support 14having an annular member 14a is mounted rotatably about the longitudinalaxis of the axle housing 1 on a cylindrical mounting portion 2 of anannular mounting member 16 fixed to the annular member 8a through anannular bushing 17 and annular sealing members 18. The annular mountingmember 16 is fixed to the side face of the annular member 8a by suitablemeans such as bolts. The bushing 17 and the sealing members 18 aresupported by a plate 20 fixed to the annular mounting member 16 bysuitable means 13 is provided with a plurality of soil-removing teeth 23each of which is inserted in between each foot of the wheel drum 24 sothat it may be positioned in the vicinity of the peripheral surface ofthe wheel drum 24.

In operation, when a soil-Compactor travels and the wheel drums 24 arerotated, soil and dust deposited on between each foot 25 of the wheeldrums 24 can be removed by the teeth 23. At this time, the wheel drums24 are substantially vertically rocked about the longitudinal axis ofthe axle housing 1. However, the space between the peripheral surface ofthe wheel drum 24 and the teeth 23 is at all times kept constant becausethe cleaner bars 13 are also rocked about the axis of the axle housing 1in the same manner as the wheel drum What is claimed is:

l. A self-propelling soil-compaetor comprising wheel drums, an axlehousing having cylindrical extension parts at its longitudinal front andrear sidesand a wheel drum cleaning device which consists of cleanerbars attached to both the right and left sides of said axle housing,means for supporting said axle housing rotatably about the longitudinalaxis of said axle housing. and means for supporting said cleaner barsrotatably about the axis of said axle housing.

2. The soil-Compactor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said axle housingsupporting means comprises supports fixed to a main frame of the vehiclebody thereof and annular members fixed to said supports, respectively,and mounted on said cylindrical extension parts, respectively, throughannular bushings and sealing members provided therebetween.

3. The soil-compactor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cleaner barssupporting means comprises an annular mounting member securely fixed toone of said annular members of said axle housing supporting meansmounted on one of said cylindrical extension parts of said axle housing,a' first annular member rotatably mounted on said annular mountingmember through an annular bushing and annular sealing members providedtherebetween, a second annular member rotatably mounted on the othercylindrical extension part of said axle housing through an annularbushing, and first and second supports fixed to said first and secondannular members, respectively, and connecting to said cleaner bars.

4. The soil-Compactor as set forth in claim 1, further comprising aplurality of teeth provided on said cleaner bars, each inserted inbetween each of feet provided on the peripheral surface of said wheeldrum so that said teeth may be positioned in the vicinity of saidperipheral surface.

1. A self-propelling soil-compactor comprising wheel drums, an axlehousing having cylindrical extension parts at its longitudinal front andrear sides and a wheel drum cleaning device which consists of cleanerbars attached to both the right and left sides of said axle housing,means for supporting said axle housing rotatably about the longitudinalaxis of said axle housing, and means for supporting said cleaner barsrotatably about the axis of said axle housing.
 2. The soil-compactor asset forth in claim 1, wherein said axle housing supporting meanscomprises supports fixed to a main frame of the vehicle body thereof andannular members fixed to said supports, respectively, and mounted onsaid cylindrical extension parts, respectively, through annular bushingsand sealing members provided therebetween.
 3. The soil-compactor as setforth in claim 1, wherein said cleaner bars supporting means comprisesan annular mounting member securely fixed to one of said annular membersof said axle housing supporting means mounted on one of said cylindricalextension parts of said axle housing, a first annular member rotatablymounted on said annular mounting member through an annular bushing andannular sealing members provided therebetween, a second annular memberrotatably mounted on the other cylindrical extension part of said axlehousing through an annular bushing, and first and second supports fixedto said first and second annular members, respectively, and connectingto said cleaner bars.
 4. The soil-compactor as set forth in claim 1,further comprising a plurality of teeth provided on said cleaner bars,each inserted in between each of feet provided on the peripheral surfaceof said wheel drum so that said teeth may be positioned in the vicinityof said peripheral surface.